Ch.230230. Club (2)

●

Creating a club itself isn’t particularly difficult.

The problem is that rather than just making any club, I need to create one that’s as “inconspicuous” as possible.

Ideally, it should be a ghost club that doesn’t involve other people. Just establishing it and then forgetting about it would be perfect.

Since it’s mandatory according to school regulations anyway, I just need to avoid violating those rules, right?

“…So, what’s the club name?”

On that note.

I should probably start by asking this first.

“The Exorcism Club!”

“…”

I stare with a dumbfounded expression at Elia who spouts this while grinning cheerfully.

It was this guy who originally came up with the idea of creating a club, and since clubs require a minimum of two members, I agreed to include him.

But isn’t this idea a bit too catastrophic?

“…Is that really a good idea?”

“But teacher, didn’t you say we should make it a group that no one else would want to join?”

“…”

“Isn’t this club perfectly aligned with that purpose?”

I have to admit, he has a point.

Of course, the profession of “exorcist” legitimately exists, as I saw with Bizla before, but generally the word “exorcism” focuses on “demons” in most contexts.

When people hear “demon,” they tend to have seizures first and ask questions later on this continent. With such a name, no mentally sound student would come anywhere near it.

The problem is…

“Will Elphante Academy allow it?”

“What are they going to do if they don’t allow it? I’m a Dragon, you know?”

“…”

“Who could possibly object to the only human on the entire continent capable of defeating demons wanting to create this kind of club?”

He has a point there too.

If it were someone else, they’d probably reject it as an absurd request, but considering who’s making the request, it might actually work.

“So, this is the club building?”

“Yes.”

I look around with a sigh.

An old school building that feels completely abandoned.

It’s a desolate building standing alone in a remote location, reminiscent of where Yuria used to live.

Looking at it up close, I could believe ghost stories about this place.

This is the place Elia personally selected as our club building.

“…You managed to find quite a place.”

We agreed on making a club that people wouldn’t want to join, but I didn’t expect him to be this thorough.

As I let out a hollow laugh thinking about this, Elia nodded beside me with a satisfied “Mmm-hmm.”

“Truly, no one will come here.”

“…”

“Just you and me, teacher, with no interruptions, meeting here every day after school?”

I can’t help but feel goosebumps rising on my skin as I watch him making “ooh-hoo, ooh-hoo-hoo” laughing sounds.

“It’s just a club we’re creating for appearance’s sake. We don’t need to go that far—”

“Oh, didn’t you know?”

“Know what?”

“Once you establish a club, there’s a mandatory attendance period. It’s a rule to prevent people from just registering clubs and not showing up.”

“…”

“I think you’ll have to comply with that period too, teacher?”

So, in other words.

Once the club is officially recognized, after attending the required classes, I’ll have to spend a set amount of time alone with this guy.

“…”

Wait.

Is that right?

I feel like I’ve just stepped on a landmine.

“Come on, come on, let’s go inside, teacher.”

“Hey, wait, don’t push—”

As he says this and pushes me into the abandoned building, I find the interior is more comfortable than I expected.

“…?”

No, comfortable might not be the right word.

Unlike its exterior, the inside is too well-furnished, which is the problem.

Even for someone who has seen the living spaces of high nobles in the Tristan Dukedom, the tightly arranged furniture, carefully applied wallpaper and flooring are impressive. Love-love heart decorations and pink lighting fixtures are everywhere.

Unlike the seemingly collapsing appearance outside, this place has an almost bright feeling to it.

It would be suitable for newlyweds on their honeymoon.

And the most noticeable thing is…

A bed.

Not just any bed. A large, obviously expensive bed made with high-quality hardwood, neatly arranged with what appears to be the finest silk bedding.

Just the right size for two people.

“Would you like to lie down, teacher?”

“…Why?”

“It’s a bed. That’s what it’s for.”

No.

I don’t want to.

Why should I lie on a bed in broad daylight?

Especially in front of you with that lecherous expression.

“Come now, after I’ve prepared all this so diligently, you won’t even try it?”

“…”

“Don’t be like that, come on, come on…”

Elia approaches me with a slightly flushed face, fidgeting with his fingers.

“…Hey, wait a minute. Let’s stop and talk this through.”

“Sure. Let’s talk. While lying down together.”

“That’s not what I meant…!”

His breathing is rough. His pupils are slightly dilated. He looks like he’s been waiting for this moment.

My face turns pale as I step back, feeling the concentrated…

“Desire” that’s no joke.

But fortunately, before I could say anything in response, salvation came from elsewhere.

“Is anyone in there—”

“…”

Elia stopped in his tracks at the sound coming from outside the building.

I can clearly hear him clicking his tongue in annoyance.

“…That’s strange. I made sure no one could come here…”

“…”

You little…

Just how meticulously did you prepare for this?

As I break out in a cold sweat thinking about this, Elia walks reluctantly to the entrance of the building.

As soon as he opens the door, his face rapidly sours at the sight of the people on the other side.

“…What are you doing here, Riru?”

In response to Elia’s harsh question, Riru and Serath, standing on the other side of the door, both cleared their throats and pretended not to hear.

“…Well, I was just passing by.”

“…Me too.”

“…”

Elia’s face showed an expression that seemed to say “you call that an excuse?”, but Riru crossed her arms confidently and continued.

“I just heard voices while passing by, so I came to check.”

“…Who told you about the club we’re making?”

Elia sighed deeply as he answered. As if to say, let’s not play games among people who know each other.

Riru’s response seemed to be a counter to that.

“Nobody told me. I just followed you.”

“…What?”

“You’ve been constantly clinging to that man behind my back. You even went to that dukedom recently.”

Riru said with a sulky voice.

“So I’ve been carefully watching what you two are up to. That’s all.”

“…That’s stalking, Riru.”

“What’s that?”

“…”

At her confident response, Elia rubbed his forehead as if finding it difficult to explain.

Then his gaze slowly turned to Serath standing beside her.

“…And what about you?”

“I’ve been collecting information on all of Senior Darwood’s activities for quite some time now?”

“…”

“My information gathering abilities are incomparable to this barbarian here. I know his favorite foods, hobbies, what he does when he’s alone—”

“…Yes, I think we don’t need to hear any more about that, Miss Serath.”

As Elia responded, my face was gradually turning pale.

You guys…

What about my privacy…?

Do you have any intention of respecting it…?

“…This is going to be a club building from now on. Those without permission should—”

“Oh-? Really-? It’s a club building-?”

“Wow- Both of us are currently unaffiliated- We’d love to hear what kind of club it is-?”

“…”

As Riru and Serath spoke in succession like they were reading from a textbook, veins began to pop on Elia’s face.

His expression twisted fiercely as if to say “don’t interfere.”

“…This is the Exorcism Club, you two.”

“So?”

“Just as the name suggests. Ex. Or. Cism. Club. A club for defeating demons.”

Elia gritted his teeth as he spoke, as if the club name was specifically chosen to keep them away. His eyes gleamed dangerously, suggesting he wouldn’t hesitate to resort to violence.

Even Riru and Serath, who had been confronting him with brazen faces, hesitated and stepped back at his fierce demeanor.

However, they both mumbled simultaneously and continued.

“I know.”

“Why are you coming here if you know! You both have connections to that side!”

“I could play the role of being exorcised, then.”

“…”

“I’ll, I’ll do anything to join the club…!”

At Riru and Serath’s successive statements, Elia ran his hand down his face.

He looked like he was reaching the limits of his patience.

However, as I watched this scene unfold, I spoke up first.

“…Actually, there’s a more pressing issue we need to address first.”

“Huh?”

“What?”

Come to think of it.

Aren’t all the people here getting ahead of themselves?

“…We’re not the ones who decide who can join the club, are we?”

Originally, that authority belongs to the faculty advisor, not us.

Especially for a newly established, ultra-small club with fewer than 10 members.

“…”

That’s right.

With expressions that seemed to say exactly that, they stared blankly at each other.

●

Dean Percy, who was yawning with a tired expression, read through the club proposal I handed him. He’s the one who would be our club’s advisor.

After thoroughly examining the paper with a serious expression, Percy smiled slightly and opened his mouth.

“Not possible.”

Serath and Riru both flinched simultaneously at those words.

“…Um, why is it impossible for us to join the club—”

“It’s not about your membership, but rather that club establishment isn’t as simple as you might think. Both tradition and procedure are strictly managed.”

Percy continued with a sigh.

“The school provides funding, and club activities are reflected in student grades. They won’t just casually approve it. You need to certify both ‘expertise’ and ‘achievements’ simultaneously. Long-established clubs often function as political factions, sometimes directly managed by the Imperial Family.”

“…”

The expressions of the women around me, including myself, instantly became blank.

None of us had expected it to be managed so strictly.

Especially Elia, who had been confident that his involvement would guarantee approval, looked the most surprised.

“…Well, still, with my and the teacher’s achievements…”

“If we’re talking about ability, honestly, I have nothing to say about ‘exorcism.’ I even question if there’s anyone among the faculty who has more capability against demons than you. However.”

Percy shot back as if pointing out a simple and fundamental problem.

“I’m not the one who gives approval, other people are. For this kind of activity, Professor Walter would probably need to certify that it has ‘research value’ for establishment to be possible.”

“…”

“For an Exorcism Club, you’d need to prove your ability to do such work related to exorcism. As I said earlier, both expertise and achievements are necessary.”

“…Well, during the previous Night Field incident—”

“No, there needs to be work accomplished by ‘all members’ together. If you’re creating a new activity, that much should be expected.”

Percy sighed as he said this.

“Do you currently have a means to demonstrate a performance related to ‘exorcism’ that would convince the Dean of the Divine Studies Department, with all members participating?”

“…”

Of course not.

Everyone remained silent.

That silence continued until we left the dean’s office.

“…What should we do? Should we look for another club?”

In response to Elia’s question, I quietly shook my head.

If possible, creating a club and quietly staying there would be best. From what I remember of Sera’s internal club system, any other choice would only be disadvantageous in my current situation.

However.

Percy’s condition meant that we would need to show groundbreaking results related to “exorcism” that would satisfy Walter for the club to be recognized.

Not just conventional knowledge about demons, but some exorcism method that would impress him.

And if there’s a way to produce “results” impressive enough to convince Professor Walter…

“…”

I silently looked at Riru and Serath.

Without saying a word.

For quite a while.

“…”

“…”

As the silence lengthened.

Riru and Serath, sensing something ominous, opened their mouths.

“…Why are you looking at us like that?”

“No reason.”

In response to Riru’s slightly trembling voice, I smile and say.

“You two said you’d do anything to join the club, right?”

“…”

“Anything, you said?”

“…”

“You definitely said that with your own mouths, didn’t you?”

Riru and Serath’s bodies began to tremble.

The atmosphere was filled with intense regret for having said such things.

●